“Poland bears the greatest burden”: Tusk explains reluctance to send troops to Ukraine

“Poland bears the greatest burden”: Tusk explains reluctance to send troops to Ukraine Sofia Nazarenko Dmytro Usyk

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland bears the greatest burden among European countries due to the war in Ukraine. He noted that it is Poland that provides enhanced defense of NATO's borders with Russia and Belarus.

Tusk said this after a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, reports a correspondent for Channel 24.

What Tusk said after refusing to send troops to Ukraine

According to Tusk, Poland is helping Ukraine both militarily and financially. In addition, Poland is “almost the only center of assistance to Ukraine on this scale.” The Polish Prime Minister noted that support for Ukraine can guarantee security for Poland, France and all of Europe.

I would like this to reach all politicians in Europe, as well as in Kyiv, that Poland has also taken on the burden of protecting the border of NATO, the entire European Union and NATO's borders with Belarus and Russia. We are currently investing 4.7% of GDP in defense, Tusk said.

He noted that these funds are spent not only on the defense of Poland, but also “the defense of NATO and all of Europe on the sensitive borders with Russia and Belarus.”

Note that after Tusk's refusal, Emmanuel Macron said that Poland itself should decide whether to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. He added that no one but France will decide what France will do – the same applies to Poland.